The view is taken from the south side of the Thames near Richmond and shows the prospect upstream to Eel Pie Island, Twickenham, with the pediment of Marble Hill House visible through the trees to the right. At the bend of the river the red brick of Ham House may be discerned and to its left the cottages of the village of Ham.

The layering of paint in the distance is subtle and beautiful in effect. The trees are reserved out revealing pinky-brown underpainting and there are pentimenti in the fork of the right hand tree. There is succulent impasto on the clouds and the figures. The technique of the figures on the river hints at a knowledge of Canaletto.

[1] Upper stretcher,centre,verso: MR MACDONALD [/] No. 21[?]5[?][2] Central stretcher: James Bourlet [/] 17-18 Nassau St [&c] 39969[3] Lower stretcher centre: Thomas Agnew [&c] [/] 38554[4] Upper member of frame, centre, torn label in black ink: View of [...]mes [/] Frederick This apparently described Marble Hill as Lord Frederick Campbell's house. Archibald Campbell, 3rd Duke of Argyll, acted as agent in acquiring the land on which the house was built for Henrietta Howard, Countess of Suffolk. Lord Frederick Campbell (1729-1816) third son of the 4th Duke of Argyll, may have been one of the tenants in the house after the death of the Countess.

Subject

The region had come to acquire an elevated status by the third quarter of the 18th century, notably from the presence and publications of Alexander Pope, who made Twickenham his home from 1719 until his death in 1744. As a Palladian villa, Marble Hill House could claim kinship with both the great Venetian Renaissance architect, Andrea Palladio (1508-80) and the architectural heritage of ancient Rome.

Related Subjects

Related Drawings

Related Prints

E72/31 Thomas Hastings after Wilson, On the Thames, The British Museum (1854,0708.88)

This is a limpid picture that demonstrates Wilson's style on his return from Italy well. The trees are painted over reserves revealing pinky-brown underpainting and there are pentimenti in the fork of the right hand tree. The reflections in the water are extremely subtle. The large number of versions confirms this as one of Wilson's most popular English subjects

Marble Hill House was built for Henrietta Howard, mistress of King George II and was later occupied by Mrs Fitzherbert, mistress and morganatic wife of King George IV. As a Palladian villa the house could claim kinship to both the great Palladio and the architectural heritage of ancient Rome. The Thames at Twickenham had attracted painters from the 1720s, largely on account of the villa there belonging to Alexander Pope who lived there from 1719 until his death in 1744.The large number of versions confirms this as one of Wilson's most popular compositoins whilst its quality could make it the prime version. There are no swimmers lower right.

Condition/Conservation

Frame measurements: 74.5 x 106 cm. It was paste relined and AMSSEE (Area Museums Service for South Eastern England) carried out the treatment between 1981 and 1991 (the stretcher dates from relining). Original canvas simple weave. Turnovers removed at time of lining. Light reddish-brown ground. Plain weave canvas shows through in places with some cusping at the right edge. There are two small overpainted paint losses lower right. Visible brushwork in clouds; impasto used on highlighted leaves of nearest tree. Areas of drying/contraction cracks in the sky over to the right of the middle tree. Stretcher bar marks visible. Drying defects in the light paint of the towpath lower centre. Varnish has yellowed (2000). Plywood backboard.